Lock construction

ABSTRACT

A lock has a housing and a lock cylinder turnably accommodated in the housing. The lock cylinder may be of one piece with one or more spring portions each of which may in turn be of one piece with an associated tumbler portion with the lock cylinder and all portions consisting of synthetic plastic material. The lock cylinder may also be of one piece with one or more spring portions, and cooperating coupling means may be provided on the spring portions for coupling to them respectively associated tumbler portions. The lock cylinder itself may also consist of a plurality of disk-shaped sections each of which may be of one piece with one or more spring portions and a corresponding number of tumblers, or may be of one piece only with the one or more spring portions with cooperating coupling means being provided for connecting the associated tumbler portions to the respective spring portions. Alternately, irrespective of whether the lock cylinder is of one piece or several sections, the respectively associated spring portions and tumbler portions may be of one piece with one another and cooperating coupling means may be provided on the spring portions and on the lock cylinder or on respective sections of the latter, for connecting purposes.

' [73] Assignee:

ite 1 s Pate Geisler [54] ILOC [72] Inventor:

ICONS'IIIUCTION lHleinz Geisler, Gummersbach, Germany MQliI-Wflli Merten8: Co. KG, Gummersbach (Rhld.), Germany 221 Filed: Ang.26,1l970 21Appl.No.: 67,120

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 28, 1969 Germany ..P 19 43754.8

[52] US. Cl. ..70/375, 70/364 R, 70/377 [51] Int. Cl. ..E05b 9/04, EOSb15/14 [58] Field ofSearch....70/364 R, 375, 376, 377, DIG. 52-55,

70/DIG. 74, 373; 292/DIG. 38

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,292,032 4/1969 Germany ..70/376 1 Mar.11, 1197 Primary ExaminerRobert L. Wolfe AttameyMichael S. Striker [57]ABSTRACT A lock has a housing and a lock cylinder tumably accommodatedin the housing. The lock cylinder may be of one piece with one or morespring portions each of which may in turn be of one piece with anassociated tumbler portion with the lock cylinder and all portionsconsisting of synthetic plastic material. The lock cylinder may also beof one piece with one or more spring portions, and cooperating couplingmeans may be provided on the spring portions for coupling to themrespectively associated tumbler portions. The lock cylinder itself mayalso consist of a plurality of disk-shaped sections each of which may beof one piece with one or more spring portions and a corresponding numberof tumblers, or may be of one piece only with the one or more springportions with cooperating coupling means being provided for connectingthe associated tumbler portions to the respective spring portions.Altemately, irrespective of whether the lock cylinder is of one piece orseveral sections, the respectively associated spring portions andtumbler portions may be of one piece with one another and cooperatingcoupling means may be provided on the spring portions and on the lockcylinder or on respective sections of the latter, for connectingpurposes.

12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patwnked March 14, mm 3,648,493

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR EVE/Ml. Wm 13} Wm W M f 4 Pammed March 14,,1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W VEN 70R WVM wiii rock cousmucirion BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a lockconstruction, and more particularly to a lock cylinder especially of thetype for use in safety locks.

Lock cylinders are in effect the heart of a safety lock and are tumablyaccommodated in a housing of the lock. They are provided, basically,with a plurality of spring-loaded plates, pins or the like which aregenerically known as tumblers, which under the influence of the springloading extend into grooves provided in the surrounding housing andprevent turning of the lock cylinder when the latter is one position,but can be retracted against the spring loading force to permit turningof the lock cylinder-and consequently unlocking of the lock-when acorresponding key is inserted into the lock cylinder.

A great variety of different types and constructions of lock cylindersis known. Their common denominator is that the various components,namely the usually pressure-cast lock cylinder itself, the tumblers andthe usually helically configurated expansion springs, are not only madeof metal but are made individually. The result is that these variouscomponents must then be assembled individually to provide the variousdesired combinations. The problem with this is that the assembly of theindividual components not only requires particular skill, and thuscannot properly be carried out by unskilled or semiskilled personnel,but also that the expenses involved in the provision of the metallicmaterial, in the manufacture of the individual components from suchmetallic material-which is usually different for the differentcomponents-and the assembly of the components require expenses which intoto amount to a significant proportion of the final cost of the lock.These expenses can be reduced only insignificantly even if the lock isproduced in large series, so that the cost of such locks until now hasremained relatively high.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, accordingly, an object of the presentinvention to provide an improved lock of the type under discussion whichavoids the aforementioned disadvantages.

More particularly it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved lock, particularly a safety lock, which provides the samesafety features as those already known from the art but which issubstantially less expensive to produce.

A concomitant object of the invention is to provide such an improvedlock which can be produced and assembled in a very simple manner and iswell suited for partially or fully automated manufacture and assembly.

In pursuance of the above objects, and others which will become apparenthereafter, one feature of the invention resides, briefly stated, in alock which comprises a housing and a lock cylinder turnably accommodatedin this housing. According to the present invention the lock cylindercomprises a cylindrical main body portion, at least one tumbler portionand at least one spring portion permanently urging the tumbler portionto a predetermined position relative to the main body portion, with allof these portions consisting at least predominantly of synthetic plasticmaterial and with at least two of the portions being of one piece witheach other.

The main body portion may itself be of one piece and will of course inconventional manner be provided with requisite cutouts each of whichaccommodates one of the tumbler portions. The main body portion may beof one piece with either the respective spring portion or portions, inwhich case cooperating coupling means are provided for connecting eachspring portion with a tumbler portion, or else the respective springportions may each be of one piece with one of the tumbler portions andin that case the spring portions and the main body portion will beprovided with cooperating coupling means for connecting them. Such aconstruction, regardless of which one is chosen, has substantialadvantages in the manufacture of the various components which can be inwell known mass-production techniques from synthetic plastic material,and has additional advantages in the assembly because it is onlynecessary to insert the respective tumbler portions in the openingsprovided for them in the main body portion, and to thereupon simplyslide the thus-prepared main body portion into the housing where it canthen readily be secured against withdrawal.

Of course, in safety locks it is desired to provide a guarantee thatonly small lock series are produced, to assure that the likelihood of akey fitting several locks is reduced. To provide for this possibility,and at the same time maintain the production and manufacturing costs forthe novel lock low, it may be advantageous under such circumstances toresort to one of the constructions where either spring portions are ofone piece with the main body portion and can be coupled with therespective tumbler portions, or where the tumbler portions and thespring portions are of one piece and can be coupled with the main bodyportion. In this manner various difi'erent combinations can be veryreadily made, and because primarily it is the tumbler portions whichdiffer from one another in their configuration, it is possible to useone and the same main body portion and combine it with various differenttumbler portions in order to small series of locks which will respondonly to a particularly configurated key suitable for use with thisspecial series, and will not respond to other keys.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, both from thepoint of view of keeping the manufacturing costs low and from thepossibility of the number of different combinations possible, isachieved in that the main body portion itself consists of a plurality ofdisk-shaped sections which are axially arrayed and each of which is ofone piece with one or more of the spring portions and one or more of theassociated tumbler portions, or each of which is of one piece with oneor more of the spring portions to which the tumbler portions can beseparately connected, or each of which can be separately connected withone or more sets consisting of a spring portion and a tumbler portioneach which are of one piece with one another. In this manner it ispossible to combine largely identical sections with one another, whichdiffer from each other only in the configuration of the tumblerportions; of course, such sections and the associated spring portionsand tumbler portions can be accordingly produced in largely identicaltoolssuch as molds or the like-and in series of different quantities,whereupon they can be combined in a great variety of differentcombinations. The various sections can be produced partially or fullyautomatically by suitable plastic-molding or foaming machines known inthe art. Moreover, it is possible to provide a partly or fully automaticprogram control which moves different sections with different tumblerportions from the various machines producing them to a central assemblypoint where they can be assembled with one another. This namely theprogram control and the partly or fully automatic machines formanufacturing the various components-is not a part of the presentinvention and is mentioned herein only to indicate the versatility ofthe novel lock and the possibilities which are afforded by it forcostreducing automation.

If the main body portion is composed of a plurality of sections, thenthere will be two end sections provided located at opposite axial endsof the main body portion and secured thereto in suitable manner. Formanufacturing the various components of synthetic plastic material it isparticularly advantageous to make the spring portions in form of leafsprings, rather than as helical expansion springs as heretoforecustomary, because in this manner the main body portion (or the sectionsthereof) can be particularly advantageously constructed of one piecewith the spring portions and/or the tumbler portions. This measure,incidentally, also facilitates the assembly of the components and theirinsertion into the housmg.

As mentioned before, the various portions are made of synthetic plasticmaterial, and high reliability and sturdiness is obtained if for suchsynthetic plastic material a material is utilized having high strengthand permanent resilience and elasticity, for instance a thermoplasticmaterial such as polymethylene oxide, which is also known andcommercially available under the trademark Delrin. This, however, is tobe considered an exemplary identification of one such material, becauseothers are also suitable.

The insertion and removal of the key to be used with a lock according tothe present invention is simplified in that the surfaces bounding theapertures in the respective tumblers and which face the teeth of thekey, are either rounded or bevelled, that is configurated in thecross-sectional shape of a gable roof. Increased safety can be furtherprovided by having the key guide passage in the one-piece main bodyportionor in the various sections which together make up the main bodyportion-be so configurated in cross section that it corresponds to thecross-sectional profile of the key to be used with the lock.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to the construction and and themethod of operation, together with additional objects and advantagesthereof, will be best understood from the following description ofspecific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a somewhat diagrammaticsection taken on line I I of FIG. 2 and illustrating a first embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side-elevational view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 1, showing the tumbler portions located outside the recessesprovided for them in the main body portion;

FIG. 3 is a top-plan view of the tumbler portion shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the tumbler portionsreceived in the recesses of the main body portion;

FIG. 5 is a view analogous to FIG. 1 illustrating one section of amulti-sectioned main body portion together with its associated springportion and tumbler portion;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the tumbler portionaccommodated in the recess of the section which is provided for thispurpose;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating a furtherembodiment; and

FIG. 8 is an axial sectional elevation showing a lock utilizing eitherthe embodiment of FIG. 5 or that of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Discussing now the drawing indetail, and firstly the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. l-4, it isinitially emphasized that the drawing clearly shows the basic conceptaccording to the present invention, namely that the tumblers and springsare either of one piece with one another and connected with the mainbody portion, or that the main body portion is of one piece with thesprings and that the tumblers are connected with the springs, andfurther that the main body portion may consist of one piece or ofseveral sections. In particular if the main body portion (or any sectionthereof) is not of one piece with both the spring portions and tumblerportions, then these separate components may be made of variousdifferent synthetic plastic materials, that is the two portions whichare of one piece with each other may be made of synthetic plastic andthe third portion which is to be connected with the two portions may beof another synthetic plastic. This may be desirable in some applicationor in some circumstances and in such a case resort will of course be hadto one of the embodiments where only two of the basic portions are ofone piece with one another, whereas the third portion-either the tumbleror the main body portion or the sections thereof-are separate.

As FIG. 1 clearly shows, reference numeral 1 clearly identifies the mainbody portion of a lock cylinder according to the present invention. Itis provided with an axially extending passage or opening or key guide 2for the nonillustrated key which is to operate the lock cylinder. In theembodiment of FIGS. 1-4 at least one spring portion 3 is of one piecewith the main body portion 1, and in turn at least one tumbler portion 4is of one piece with the free end of the spring portion 3 which isconfigurated as a leaf spring. In other words, the portions 1, 3 and 4are all of one piece with one another and can of course be made in asingle molding, casting or other plastic-forming operation.Advantageously the plastic will be one of the ones identified earlier,for instance the one known under the trademark Delrin. The main bodyportion 1 is provided transversely to its elongation (compare FIG. 2)with a number of recesses 5 extending inwardly from its circumference,and which number corresponds to the number of tumbler portions provided.As FIG. 4 clearly shows, each tumbler portion 4 can be inserted into itsassociated recess by requisite bending and deforming of thecorresponding spring portions 3. The tumbler portions 4 are providedwith apertures 4b which, when the tumbler portions 4 are received in therespective recesses 5, register with the key guide 2 as shown in FIG. 4.FIG. 3 shows that the side faces bounding the aperture 4b and facing theteeth on a key to be inserted, are identified with reference numeral 4and may be either rounded or, as illustrated, bevelled in gable-roofconfiguration. This facilitates insertion and removal of the key andalso makes it easier for the tumbler portions 4 to be withdrawn to theirunlocking position.

Reference to FIG. 4 will clearly show that it is the continuous tendencyof the leaf-spring-shaped spring portion 3 to radially outwardlydisplace the templar portion 4 along and out of the associated recess 5so that it will engage with a corresponding groove provided in thesurrounding wall of the housing-this is discussed in more detail withreference to FIG. 8, and it is evident that the construction accordingto the present invention thus achieves in a very simple manner the samefunction which conventionally is provided by tum blers which arespring-loaded with helical expansion springs.

To insert the embodiment of FIGS. 2-4 into a housing, for instance theone shown in FIG. 8 and identified with reference numeral 10, it issimply necessary to displace all of the tumbler portions 4 into therespective associated recesses 5. Once this has been done, theconstruction is inserted into the correspondingly configurated openingof a housing 10 (compare FIG. 8). The projection 8 on the main bodyportion 1 may, depending on the use to which the lock is to be put, foractuating a dead bolt, an electrical switch if the lock is used as anignition lock for a vehicle, or for cooperating with another element.

The embodiment in FIGS. 5 and 6 is of the type wherein the main bodyportion 1 is itself constituted by a plurality of individual disk-shapedsections 11, one of which is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. These are axiallyarrayed in the manner shown in FIG. 8 and at the opposite axial ends ofthe thus-provided composite main body portion 1 there are located endpieces 12 and 13 still to be described and which may be made ofsynthetic plastic material or metal. In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 and 6each section II is of one piece with the as sociated spring portion 3and the latter in turn is of one piece with the associated tumblerportion 4. The embodiment of FIG. 7 differs from that of FIGS. 5 and 6in that each section 11 is an individual item whereas each springportion 3 is of one piece with the respectively associated tumblerportion 4. In FIG. 7 cooperating coupling means are provided, namely theexemplary ball-shaped coupling portion 3a at the free end of the springportion 3, and a recess lla defined between two resiliently deflectableparts of the section 11 so that the por tion 3a can be received with asnap action in the recess lla whereby the unitary element consisting ofthe portions 3 and 4 is coupled to the section II. Evidently, othertypes of coupling means can also be provided, for instance a slide-intype of coupling means or the like which are known per se.

In any case, utilizing either the embodiment of FIG. 5 or that of FIG. 7the sections 11 are axially arrayed with reference to one another, adesired number of such sections being provided. The sections llll areconnected with one another and with the end pieces 12 and I3 in suitablemanner, for instance by riveting, by snap-action couplings, by pins orthe like, such as clips or other elements, and for this purpose recesses6 or openings 6 are provided which may have different configurations asis clearly indicated in FIGS. 5 and 7. In the illustrated embodiment ofFIG. 8 a connecting pin 14 is shown in broken lines as extending throughthe aligned openings 6 of the various sections 11 and into the endpieces 12 and 13 where it is connected with the latter, for instance bybeing riveted to them. Evidently, the tumbler portions of the varioussections ll which are connected together in the embodiment of FIG. 8 maybe and will usually be different to thereby obtain a lock having thedesired characteristics and utilizing a particularly configurated key.By varying the combinations of tumbler portions the lock itself can bevaried accordingly. A flange 115 of the end piece 12 abuts against anend face of the housing and at the inner end the main body portion l issecured against withdrawal by a circlip 16 received in a groove providedin the end piece l3 and abutting against an internal housing flange 17.When the lock of FIG. 8 is in looking position, the tumbler portions 4of the various sections 11 extend in known manner into a groove 18provided in the inner surface Illa of the housing 10 and extendinglengthwise of the main body portion ll. They can be withdrawn from thisgroove 3 by insertion of the key 19 which is fragmentarily illustrated,thus permitting turning of the lock cylinder in the housing 10. When thekey 19 is inserted, the tumbler portions 4 enter-in the manner knownfrom conventional locks of this cylinder type-temporarily into a groove20 provided in the inner surface 10a of the housing 10 at a locationdiametrally opposite the groove 113, but when the key is completelyinserted they become withdrawn from the groove 20. After the lockcylinder is turned, the tumbler portions 4 are blocked outside thegrooves 118 and 20 by contact with the housing surface lltla, so thatthe key 19 cannot be withdrawn in this position of the lock cylinder.

It will be appreciated that by resorting to the present inven tion it ispossible to produce locks, and in particular lock cylinders which aresuitable even for safety locks and which can be made in a much simplerand less expensive way than anything known heretofore from the priorart. Moreover, the construction according to the present inventionaffords the same safety which is provided by conventional constructionsof this type, but it is less expensive to manufacture and less expensiveto assemble. In addition there is the further advantage that thesynthetic plastic material of which the various components are made doesnot corrode, so that in many cases a lock constructed according to thepresent invention will operate more reliably and for a longer period oftime without difficulty than what is known from the art where thecomponents are made of metal and thus subject to corrosion.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in alock, particularly a safety lock, it is not intended to be limited tothe details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made without departing in any way from the spirit ofthe presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention andtherefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehendedwithin the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims:

ll. In a lock, particularly a safety lock, in combmation, a

housing; and a lock cylinder turnably accommodated in said housing, saidlock cylinder comprising a main body portion of cylindrical crosssection, at least one tumbler portion and at least one spring portionpermanently urging said tumbler portion to a predetermined positionrelative to said main body portion, all of said portions consisting atleast predominantly of synthetic plastic material and being of one piecewith each other.

2. In a lock as defined in claim ll, said main body portion being adisk-shaped section; and further comprising additional disk-shapedsections each associated with an additional tumbler portion and anadditional spring portion, said sections all being axially arrayed.

3. In a lock as defined in claim 1, wherein said synthetic plasticmaterial is a material having high strength and resilience.

4. In a lock as defined in claim ll, wherein said synthetic plasticmaterial is polymethylene oxide.

5. In a lock as defined in claim 2; and further comprising connectingmeans connecting said sections against relative displacement.

6. In a lock as defined in claim 1, wherein said spring portion isconfigurated as a leaf-spring.

7. In a lock as defined in claim 2, each of said sections being of onepiece with at least one of said spring portions and at least one of saidtumbler portions.

8. In a look as defined in claim 7; further comprising a pair of axialend sections positioned at opposite axial ends of said main bodyportion; and wherein at least one of said end sections consists ofmetallic material.

9. In a lock as defined in claim 7; further comprising a pair of axialend sections positioned at opposite axial ends of said main bodyportion; and wherein at least one of said end sections consists ofsynthetic plastic material.

110. In a lock as defined in claim ll, said tumbler portion having anaperture for a key provided with tumbler-actuating teeth, said aperturebeing bounded by surface portions which face towards such teeth uponinsertion of a key into said aperture; and wherein said surface portionsare rounded.

llll. In a lock as defined in claim 1, said tumbler portion having anaperture for a key provided with tumbler-actuating teeth, said aperturebeing bounded by surface portions which face towards such teeth uponinsertion of a key into said aper ture; and wherein said surfaceportions are bevelled.

112. In a lock as defined in claim 1; further comprising a key ofpredetermined cross-sectional profile; and wherein said main bodyportion is provided with a key-guiding passage having a cross-sectionalconfiguration corresponding to said profile.

1. In a lock, particularly a safety lock, in combination, a housing; anda lock cylinder turnably accommodated in said housing, said lockcylinder comprising a main body portion of cylindrical cross section, atleast one tumbler portion and at least one spring portion permanentlyurging said tumbler portion to a predetermined position relative to saidmain body portion, all of said portions consisting at leastpredominantly of synthetic plastic material and being of one piece witheach other.
 2. In a lock as defined in claim 1, said main body portionbeing a disk-shaped section; and further comprising additionaldisk-shaped sections each associated with an additional tumbler portionand an additional spring portion, said sections all being axiallyarrayed.
 3. In a lock as defined in claim 1, wherein said syntheticplastic material is a material having high strength and resilience. 4.In a lock as defined in claim 1, wherein said synthetic plastic materialis polymethylene oxide.
 5. In a lock as defined in claim 2; and furthercomprising connecting means connecting said sections against relativedisplacement.
 6. In a lock as defined in claim 1, wherein said springportion is configurated as a leaf-spring.
 7. In a lock as defined inclaim 2, each of said sections being of one piece with at least one ofsaid spring portions and at least one of said tumbler portions.
 8. In alock as defined in claim 7; further comprising a pair of axial endsections positioned at opposite axial ends of said main body portion;and wherein at least one of said end sections consists of metallicmaterial.
 9. In a lock as defined in claim 7; further comprising a pairof axial end sections positioned at opposite axial ends of said mainbody portion; and wherein at least one of said end sections consists ofsynthetic plastic material.
 10. In a lock as defined in claim 1, saidtumbler portion having an aperture for a key provided withtumbler-actuating teeth, said aperture being bounded by surface portionswhich face towards such teeth upon insertion of a key into saidaperture; and wherein said surface portions are rounded.
 11. In a lockas defined in claim 1, said tumbler portion having an aperture for a keyprovided with tumbler-actuating teeth, said aperture being bounded bysurface portions which face towards such teeth upon insertion of a keyinto said aperture; and wherein said surface portions are bevelled. 12.In a lock as defined in claim 1; further comprising a key ofpredetermined cross-sectional profile; and wherein said main bodyportion is provided with a key-guiding passage having a cross-sectionalconfiguration corresponding to said profile.